Contracts approved for Route 72 work, Route D bridge

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission March 6 approved contracts for two highway projects scheduled to take place this summer in Phelps County.

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By Paul Hackbarth

The Rolla Daily News - Rolla, MO

By Paul Hackbarth

Posted Mar. 11, 2013 at 8:00 AM

By Paul Hackbarth

Posted Mar. 11, 2013 at 8:00 AM

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission March 6 approved contracts for two highway projects scheduled to take place this summer in Phelps County.

The commission awarded one of the projects, which involves resurfacing 7.352 miles of Route 72 between U.S. Route 63 in Rolla east to County Road 5220, to APAC-Missouri, Inc., of Columbia.

APAC submitted the low bid of $2,382,114 for the project. Three other contractors submitted bids for the work, which were opened Feb. 22.

APAC’s bid includes a base bid of $2,212,792.92, for resurfacing the section of highway as well as some work to bring sidewalks, curbs and ramps into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and two new pedestrian crossings at Routes 63 and 72.

The contractor also included an alternate bid of $169,321.65 that was awarded for additional sidewalk and ramp work along the portion of Route 72.

On Route 72 west of Route O, there will be some milling work to remove part of the existing highway and crews will fill it back in with new pavement.

East of Route O will primarily be an overlay project, with brand new pavement put down over the existing pavement. Deficiencies in the pavement also will be addressed.

According to Preston Kramer, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) area engineer, the resurfacing work is tentatively planned for July. Motorists should expect lane closures.

Route D Bridge

Also approved at thestate commission’s meeting was a contract to J.C. Industries, Inc., of Jefferson City, for the rehabilitation of the Gasconade River bridge on Route D near Jerome.

J.C. Industries, one of five bidders on the project, submitted the lowest bid of $397,778.

The bridge will be completely closed during the work. The contractor can complete the work any time between April and August 2013, although no road closures will take place until after July 9. The project is expected to be completed before school starts in the fall.

The work on the bridge will involve replacing damaged end bents, which are substructure piers that support each end of the bridge, to ensure the safety and integrity of the crossing and improve the support structure under the span.

The existing structure was built in 1996 with end bents that do not move, but the bents are breaking up because of expansion and contraction of the bridge caused by seasonal changes in temperature.

According to MoDOT, allowing traffic on the bridge during construction would cause movement of the bridge and would hinder construction of the end bents.

Both end bents will be constructed at the same time not only to cut down on closure time but also to ensure a uniform, quality product.

During the closure, MoDOT is suggesting travelers use Route 28 and Interstate 44 around the bridge. The detour length is about 28 miles.

Page 2 of 2 - Phelps County EMS and fire districts will work with emergency personnel in the Dixon area to help respond to incidents in that area during the closure.

The state commission approved both of these projects in the 2013-17 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in July 2012.